My idea for Secret "X" would have the contestant keeping the free "X", but using three small prizes. The Secret "X" would be behind any of the five middle squares. Getting all three small prizes would be an auto-win, but even getting two out of three makes better odds than the current version.
I've always wanted them to update Secret X, too, and digitally enhance it like Double Cross & Bonus Game so that the winning X pops up on the LED screens or whatever. But, actually, with 3 out of the 4 corners covers in Secret X, the odds go DOWN on winning if there's only 1 X in the other 5 spaces. It's only 60% to win versus the 66.7% it is now. (Trust the math teacher on this.)
I'd actually argue to instead install TWO X's into the 5 hidden squares, and no third item.
> With 2 out of 4 corners covered, you'd have a 40% chance to win (up from 33.3%), as 4 out of the 10 combinations of X locations would have one of them land in your winning square.
> With 3 out of 4 corners covered, you'd have a 90% chance to win. The only way you can lose is for both Secret X's to be in the two bad squares. (Ex: Your X's are in squares 1, 3 and 7, and the Secret X's are in 6 and 8.)
> And heck, if you want, install a cash bonus ($2500, $5000?) if both of the Secret X's make a tic-tac-toe.